How We Work

Integrating the human-rights based approach
UNDP's Global Human Rights Strengthening Programming (GHRSP) provides technical support, advisory services, knowledge sharing and practical guidance tools. The explicit integration of human rights into all of our policies and programmes is a UNDP priority. We apply the same approach in our work with governments and international human rights machinery. The UN Practitioner's Portal on HRBA Programming includes a resource database for integrating a human rights-based approach into development programming.

Creating a human rights community of practiceHuriTALK is the UN-wide virtual knowledge network on human rights policy, connecting more than 1,200 development practitioners across the United Nations. Within UNDP, we bring together programme staff from country offices, regional centres and headquarters in a practitioner's community. Together we build synergies and take action to implement our human rights mandate. Members engage in knowledge networking, share experiences and lessons learned, and work to strengthen individual and collective capacity.

Assessing the capacity of human rights institutions
How effective are national institutions in this region in carrying out their mandates to protect and promote human rights? Self-assessments supported by the UNDP Regional Office in Bangkok are looking at what countries in Asia and the Pacific can do now, and what they aim to do in the future.

Harmonizing national law with international standards
Workshops in West Africa and in China have invited government officials to study UN and regional treaties and protocols. The focus is on rules and procedures and, ultimately, more effective implementation by identifying the competencies that countries need.

Supporting the Universal Periodic Review process
The Universal Periodic Review is a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. UNDP has assisted national governments in preparing their national reports in Bahrain, Egypt, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and Viet Nam.

Developing human rights action plans
Central Asia's first National Human Rights Action Plan emerged in Kazakhstan in 2009, with support from UNDP. The plan focuses on three areas: improved performance of human rights institutions, aligning legislation with international norms and standards, and promotion of human rights education.

Empowering Indigenous Peoples
Partnerships between UNDP and the indigenous peoples and their organizations are critical to promote and to strengthen democratic governance and human rights, preventing and resolving conflicts, reducing poverty and sustainably managing the environment. more